Facts For Fiction

Was übersetzt ist noch nicht angekommen

69 minutes, BetaSP, 4:3, colour, PAL

(…) Michael Pilz’s most recent cinematographic diary, is an impressive instance of this convincing project: For one night Pilz rides through New York with a remarkable taxi driver. Sitting by his side, looking and listening, sometimes intervening, he uses his handy high-8 camera like a writing instrument, a „camera-stylo“. The quality of the film is rooted not only in the encounter with someone familiar with the night, the movies and America’s most impressive metropolis and who knows how to unexpectedly challenge his passengers. This video with a running time of about one hour is a good example of the intelligence and intuition of Pilz’s camera work and the corresponding montage (which is partly anticipated by the camera): the artist’s sense of rhythm and framing makes the spectator perceive surprising glances and moments in which reflexivity and curiosity reinforce each another. Michael Pilz makes us aware of the fact that the artistic documentary presupposes an ability of portraying the self in the best Lumiéran sense. (…)

Christa Blümlinger,
„Between Here and Elsewhere“,
on the occasion of the Media Art Achievement Award 1997 of the Government of Lower Austria,
St. Pölten,
16 October 1997

The title  „What Translates Has Not Yet Arrived“  relates to Emmanuel Levinas (1905–1995).

Original title Was übersetzt ist noch nicht angekommenEnglish title Facts For FictionProduced by Michael PilzConcept by Jeff PerkinsRealization by Michael PilzCinematography by Michael PilzOriginal sound by Michael PilzEdited by Michael PilzFeaturing Jeff Perkins

Austria 1996Language English
No subtitles

First public screening 2 February 1997, International Filmfestival Rotterdam